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People who think this is pricey are what is wrong with surfing... Surfers who view a surfboard like a piece of sporting equipment that can be made cheap in China. It's more than that. Some people will never see that and they are just missing out on the experience.

Just an FYI... at $100 a foot for a handshaped surfboard that equates to about $30 an hour labor, which equals $60,000 a year before taxes and health care. Take out taxes and health care and you are down to $40,000. Some of you are too young to grasp the cost of living, but it's not easy to support a family on $40k. These shapers are not making a lot of money at those prices. But this is what they must do to compete with cheap china made crap. Think about that the next time you complain about the price of your board.

Not a single board on that In-Stock list looks over priced to me. Actually, quite the opposite. A 10' longboard with a resin swirl and glossed finish for only $1015http://www.austinsurfboards.com/imag...tock/11048.JPG
I'd say that's at or below industry standard on a board of that quality. You know how much work goes into a board like that? I wouldn't call that a big price tag, I'd call that a good deal on a handmade piece of functional art.

for example, a 5'8 bad company with basic pin lines and gloss coat for $645. that is pretty expensive.

and the boards that are under 500 have bad looking graphics that probably have been collecting dust. Maybe I am just not a flame person, but I do not want a basic yellow orange flame on the nose of my board. I am not dissing his quality or any of that, I am just saying some of his boards are high priced and the low priced ones are low priced for a reason.

People who think this is pricey are what is wrong with surfing... Surfers who view a surfboard like a piece of sporting equipment that can be made cheap in China. It's more than that. Some people will never see that and they are just missing out on the experience.

Just an FYI... at $100 a foot for a handshaped surfboard that equates to about $30 an hour labor, which equals $60,000 a year before taxes and health care. Take out taxes and health care and you are down to $40,000. Some of you are too young to grasp the cost of living, but it's not easy to support a family on $40k. These shapers are not making a lot of money at those prices. But this is what they must do to compete with cheap china made crap. Think about that the next time you complain about the price of your board.

Right on. There's so much to be said for QUALITY and the sheer knowledge that you are riding a board from someone you know, someone who built that board by the sweat of his brow. I've got no problems with Firewires and all the new materials. I personally would feel more at ease traveling with a more robust stick. That being said, a hand-shaped board from a local craftsman is and will always be the real deal. If you have a problem with saving the extra cash...well, I try hard not to be judgmental. I will say, however, that I have no problem saving a little longer to support someone whom I respect on a personal level.

4 finger lap over the rail , Heavier Glassing , boxed tail and fin box, Resin tin , paying 1100 for a hand shaped log is about right. Would a pay 645 got a CI or a merrik no thanks but I will call up Bing , Legend or Wynn and spend that type of cash and get a hand made board by someone who knows and rides are waves.

you get what you pay for when it comes the the art of surfboard building. if you think a 500 dollar kona sports pop out is better or as good as a hand shaped board then you need to sit back and re-evaluate the reason u are surfing

Austins boards are individual works of art. The prices for the materials he uses are through the roof including the resin tint. His workmanship is top quality and holds up very well. Yeah his prices are more than double for a Chinese turd knock off but your getting a board thats 100x better in every aspect. You get what you pay for. Lets all hope these guys stay in business - the alternative dosent look so good.

The market has a way of taking care of itself. Austin charges what he charges because the people who buy his boards know what they're getting and are more than willing to pay his prices. He's an experienced and talented hand shaper and artful, skilled glasser, pinliner, sander, and polisher. How many guys do you know... or have even heard of... that do it all, and are THAT good at every step in the process? He's probably got a rub out guy now, but I've seen his own work and it's nothing short of exemplary. He has set the standard and it is uncompromisingly high. He sells a lot of boards, and he should. I think many of his boards are worth MORE than he charges.

I agree & again...I say look at the fit and finish of the product. While the taste (i.e. particular designs, colors, etc) may not not appeal to certain individuals, the quality of craftsmanship is remarkable. Sure...he doesn't have his boards in the ASP line up, but he's about the stoke of surfing & shaping...not the hype...and that's why I give him my business.

I was looking at getting a mini-sim from John Cherry or Joe Bauguess (original Casper board). I even spoke with Joe about an order, but Austin's approach with quality vs quantity won me over. Did I pay more? No. Joe Bauguess doesn't capitalize on the Hydrodynamica boards as much as he could (he's a good dude, too), but by the time his board gets to my door, the thin-glassed, sanded-finish Hydrodynamica would've easily been $100 more than the heavier glass (my specs), gloss & polish Austin board with custom fin placement.

I don't slam pop-outs. If that's what fits into a budget and give a person stoke, more power to them. It's the archer, not the arrow that makes the mark. For people that desire more refined equipment (especially longboards), however, I don't think you'll find better than Austin at any price...just different.

As far as purchasing supplies go, honestly, I'd shop around and if his prices are close, I'd go with him since his customer service is awesome.